It’s no secret that it’s been a really rough winter for us New Englanders; I honestly don’t remember a time with this much snow in years! That being said, I still love to stay active & keep my body moving through yoga, spinning, zumba and various indoor group fitness classes.

Unfortunately because of the temps, I’ve let one of my all-time favorite workouts fall by the wayside: running. And try as I might to fall in love with the treadmill, it’s just not really my thing.

I need the outdoors. The fresh air. The people. The nature. The sunshine. And I know outdoor winter running is possible with proper gear and all, but I just wasn’t doing it.

So when the lovely folks at New Balance sent me a pair of their brand new Fresh Foam 980 running shoes, I took it as a sign to go back to my running roots & get back into it. (This was also around the same time as Chestnut Hill True Runner’s “Ladies’ Night Out,” where I bought a new running headband, socks and some other apparel.) Running Rachel was about to make a comeback!

I was super excited when the sneakers arrived at my door in the “Blue Aster with Hot Pink & White” color. How fun! And the feel of them…so soft and foamy. But as you know, it’s not all about looks, especially when it comes to running shoes. So I immediately looked into what these bad boys were all about.

Not to mention they come in a variety of fun colors (for both men + women) including women’s “Dark Heather Grey with Green Gecko & Blue Bell” and “White and Purple Cactus Flower & Neon Yellow.”

I was sold. But what better way to really see how they move than to take them out for a test ride? On my first run, the first thing I noticed was their super lightweight feel; I absolutely hate when running shoes feel heavy and bulky like they’re weighing you down. Not the Fresh Foam! The run felt smooth and comfy (especially for someone who had been slacking big-time).

Also, given that I have flat feet and sometimes need to buy specialized running shoes, my feet actually felt surprisingly supported by the Fresh Foam 980. I also noticed this when wearing them for the day just walking around the city…pure blissful comfort. That being said, I still have yet to take them for a long run, but so far so good!

Oh, and I’ve absolutely been rocking them out for spin classes, Zumba and long walks to add a pop of color + comfort. I was super pumped to see the banner ad for them in Boston Marathon Sports when I stopped by one chilly afternoon…those are my shoes!

One of my favorite runs was on The Charles River one chilly winter morning. It felt great to break ’em in at one of my favorite running spots of all time, while letting loose and clearing my mind. Running (closely followed by yoga) is by far my favorite exercise for stress relief and “zenning out.”

Not to mention I got to take a trip down memory lane, popping by my favorite willow tree where The Boy popped the question. Boy does it look different in the wintertime!

Naked willow tree!

After breaking in my new kicks, I realized winter running really isn’t that bad… when geared up properly that is. Nonetheless, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to spring running weather! I’ve already got my eye on on some upcoming 10Ks and possibly another half marathon. I’ll keep you posted!

OK, let’s get to the fun part now shall we? I’ve got some exciting news for you ladies:New Balance is going to be gifting one lucky Healthy Chicks reader a brand new pair of Fresh Foam 980s of their own!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

1. Simply leave a comment on this post with why you heart running (or why you want to get into it)!

Note: This review is open to US & Canada readers only. I will choose a random winner by 5 p.m. EST on Friday, 2/28.

Best of luck!

Happy running,

Rachel

Big thank you to New Balance for my new pair of sweet kicks! Note: I was given a pair of Fresh Foam 980 running shoes from New Balance for review, but was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own, as always!

I was literally just thinking this this morning….I NEED to get an outdoor run in this week! I miss it so much and haven’t gone a good month or so now. I really miss running in Boston – best running city every!

also, running is an awesome way to cross train for dragon boat….. I’m @Boston1Dboat and I tweeted too!
Our team is new in town and we’d love to promote the sport of dragonboat. Let me know if you’re interested – all our winter workouts are free. In summer we paddle as a team at Fort Point. It’s super fun, social and supportive. Not to mention a great workout. boston1.org if you’re interested. Also, no experience necessary, we teach you everything you need to know.

I would love a pair of New Balance Fresh Foam 980s! I have been out of the country for the past year & a half and have fallen off the working out/running bandwagon. Now that I’m back in the USA, I’ve started back up and slowly but steadily would love to begin running now that the weather is getting better!

I love running because it makes me feel accomplished and like I CAN achieve. I’ve always hated it (and sometimes I still do), but it makes me feel good afterwards and there’s nothing like setting and surpassing a running goal for yourself.

I love running because it makes me feel free and forget anything that is stressing me out that day! I am not much of a distance runner but even 1-2 miles outdoors always boosts my energy.. not to mention helps me with my fitness and weight loss goals!

I heart running because it’s been my escape and my connection to my best friend who lives in Vermont. We trained separately but ran our very first marathon together. I like to register for races that benefit causes so that when I has a bad running day, I know that I am helping someone out and paying it forward. Running isn’t just for me, although it has been one of the greatest gifts.

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genuinely awesome for people experience, well, keep up the nice work fellows.

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Hi, I'm Rachel! I show women how to nourish their mind, body + soul so they can ditch dieting and depriving and start LIVING a life full of bliss. I believe that every woman should have the joy of living a glass-is-half-full, passionate, guilt-free life, and that you absolutely can too!